Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-04-18
DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO.
EASTERN OHIO VISITED BY A TERRI.
BILE WIND STORM.

The Towns Of st. Clairsville, bridgeport,
Bruce, We1lsville and Surrounding
Country the Scene Of the Dreadful Cy-
cIone-A Scare In Minnesota
WHEELING, w. Va, April 1S-A tor
nado Friday afternoon swept over a section
of country extending from st. Clairsville,
o., ten miles west to point as far east as
this city. Little damage was done here, the
high hills on both sides Of the river shelter
ing the houses, but the commotion in the
upper air was noticed and few roofs were
damaged. The storm was first felt at So.
Clairsville at 3:15 p. m. It appeared to be
travelling from the west and In the shape of
funnel-shaped mass of cloud resembling in
appearance dense black smoke.
The cone was downward and could be
plainly traced over its track by the destruc-
ton it left. Houses were demolished, trees
snapped off like pipestems, horses and cattle
Frustrated and carried bodily hundreds of
yards by the gale, and the sky was darkened
with the clouds of flying debris. The storm
and its effects showed all the distinguishing
characteristics of the western cyclone. It
first struck two new brick houses belonging
to Col Patton and Judge Cochran, west of
town, and frame house belonging to q man
named Coleman. All three were completely
demolished, and the furniture and portions,
Of the roof and walls scattered along the
track of the cyclone clean to the end Of the
town, mile distant
A large mansion at the corner of Marietta
and Main streets was cut OFF clean at the
second floor and the walls and roof scattered
in fragments. The First National bank
block and C. Trail & Sons dry goods store
were almost swept from their Sizes only
portion OF the lower walls being left stand
ing. The dwellings and business block of
j.. b. Patterson, druggist: George Epson,
grocer, and James Patterson, dry goods, had
the upper walls and roofs swept off and the
lower part of the houses badly damaged by
falling bricks and timbers The National
hotel, Mrs Evans large brick residence and
probably forty other houses were less seri-
ously damaged. No casualties to persons
have been reported, the funnel-shaped cloud
having been seen approaching in time for
the families to take refuge in cellars. Ben
jamin Barlxhurst's fine old brick mansion,
south of town, was totally demolished, like
wise the United Presbyterian church, a large
brick edifice. The loss in st. Clairsville viii
reach 500, 600 The Western Union wires
and poles are all down. Shingles were
driven through Notwithstanding like ar
rows
James F. Anderson, of Bellaire, had just
hitched buggy in the street, when some
one shouted warning to him. He clutched
q telegraph pole, which snapped of just
above his head. Hon. L. Danford was sit
ting in his law Office when an entire Chin
h. AoNr
leaving him unframed. AT Bartons station,
four miles north, new brick house was lev
eled to the ground At Pasco, five miles
west Of this city on the National road, the.
brick house. of A. Hinkle was demolished and
he badly hurt Large tracts Of wood be-
tween here and st. Clairsville have not a
uninjured, while most Of them are fat on
the ground.
The town Of Bridgeport, just across the
river, escaped, as did Wheeling, but
funeral was in the cemetery OF the hilltop
at the time, and the carriages were blown
over and carried against trees, tombstones
swapping of as they blew over them.
Martins Ferry, on the opposite side OF the
river, at the north end of town, suffered
even more severely than ST. Clairsviile.
Here broad valley gave direction TO the
destroying gale, which licked up forests and
farm houses and scattered fences in its path
down the hollow, widening out as it struck
the little city, and scattering destruction ey-
erywhere.
The Elson Glass Works had one brick
building blown down on the hill, and the
brick residence Of J. H. Drennen. editor OF
the News, was so badly used up that not one
brick was left on another. {. w Balloys
fine concrete residence was also leveled TO
r~nund Henry HaIling's EIGHT houses, barps